Inchinnan forges link to net zero
Engineering world hails new kit
A game-changing piece of kit in the engineering world has been unveiled in Inchinnan.
The FutureForge will enable teams of researchers and engineers to collaborate on work to “embrace net-zero, unlock energy savings, accelerate productivity and ultimately transform this vitally important industry for future generations”.
The industry scale – fully digitally enabled – forging research platform was launched at the end of March at the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), part of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS).
Professor Brad Wynne, director of the AFRC, said: “With the largest hot forging press of its kind, dedicated solely to research and innovation, unparalleled connectivity capabilities, and over a decade of experience in materials science, the Advanced Forming Research Centre is in a unique position to help the forging industry embrace net-zero, unlock energy savings, accelerate productivity and ultimately transform this vitally important industry for future generations.
“The 2,000 tonne press, multiple furnaces, ground-breaking smart manipulator and fully connected datadriven control room that make up FutureForge provide the sector with the industry-scale test bed it requires to help de-risk investment in innovation around materials, process improvements and energy utilisation.”
Forging is a traditional manufacturing process dating back thousands of years – and is vital to nationally-important industries such as aerospace, defence, marine and energy.
The multi-million-pound investment has been supported by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Scottish Enterprise.
Chris Courtney, CEO of NMIS, said: “FutureForge is the latest addition to a growing suite of Industry 4.0 research and development capabilities within the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland.
“Through this novel platform, companies from around the world can access not only the world-leading materials science and forging capabilities of the Advanced Forming Research Centre, but also the digitally-focused skills and expertise of the rest of the NMIS Group.
“It gives the teams the opportunity to help major businesses around the world and to act as a magnet for potential inward investors attracted to the idea of establishing production facilities within the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland to be closer to the R&D talent and skilled workforce in Scotland.”
The NMIS was opened in 2023 to create a global centre of research and innovation excellence to support Scotland’s advanced manufacturing sector.